Dinner show to benefit Special Populations

A Family Affair featured performer at fund-raiser

October 16, 2012

For the second year in a row, A Family Affair will perform during a dinner show, with the proceeds to benefit Cape Coral's Special Populations.

The band, which covers everything from rock 'n' roll and pop, to gospel, country and rhythm and blues, will play from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Lake Kennedy Senior Center. Tickets are on sale now at $20 per person.

Vince Marcucci, president of the Guardian Angels for Special Populations, which is hosting the event, said all of the proceeds go to the program.

"It helps out with our program expenses," he said, adding that one of the Special Populations' buses is "on the blink" and has been for some time.

"We have a designated fund where we put money toward the bus," he said.

According to Marcucci, the event is "kind of an informal show."

"While some of our other events are more geared toward adults," he said. "It's kind of a family-orientated show. There'll be a small dance floor."

Last year, the show raised about $2,400 for Special Populations.

"We're always happy with whatever we get," Marcucci said.

Joyce Zeigler, who belongs to the Guardian Angels and whose daughter is in Special Populations, is the event organizer. She learned about A Family Affair through church and asked last year if they would perform as a fund-raiser.

"They play everywhere," Zeigler said. "They do everything."

The group was a hit, so she asked if they would do it again this year.

"All the people that were here that hadn't seen them before, they just loved them. That's why we have them again this year," Zeigler said.

Program participants, like her daughter Denise, who is autistic and has been involved with Special Populations since 1990, enjoy the performance, too.

"They danced themselves," she said. "Everybody enjoyed them."

Dinner will be catered by Bob Evans and will include salad, spaghetti, garlic bread and such. There will be beverages and deserts available, as well.

The dinner show is BYOB, and free set-ups will be on hand.

A 50/50 raffle is planned. Zeigler added that an afghan and a numbered picture of the Sanibel Lighthouse will be raffled off during the evening.

Asked about the program's impact on her daughter's life and her family, she explained that it gives Denise a chance to be a part of something.

"She's can't just stay with us all the time," Zeigler said. "It's somewhere for all of these people to go. It's a social thing, a learning thing."

"She would have no life, let's put it that way," she said.

Information on Special Populations will be available at the show.

To purchase tickets in advance, stop by the Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center or call 574-0574. Tickets can be charged by phone.

"We'd love to know in advance, but we'll have tickets available at the door," Marcucci said.

The program also has its biggest fund-raiser of the year coming up.

The Sixth Annual Special Populations Golf Classic will be held Nov. 3 at Palmetto Pine Country Club, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $95, including greens fees and cart. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

Organizers are looking for golfers; four players to a cart.

There will be raffles and prizes, including $10,000 for a hole-in-one.

"We usually do over 100 golfers," he said.

For more information or to register, call 574-0574.

The Lake Kennedy Senior Center is at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., and the Freida B. Smith Special Populations Center is at 410 Santa Barbara Blvd.